Online interview
Ignota Labs
Online, anywhere
60-minute online interview, no preparation is required beforehand. If you cannot make these sessions but are interested please contact Ignota Labs who will do their best to accommodate.
Monday, 25th May: 11:00 – 12:00
Tuesday, 26th May: 12:00 – 13:00
Friday, 29th May: 11:00 – 12:00
Participants will receive a £30 honorarium in recognition of their time, plus a £5 virtual activity allowance for online participation, totalling £35. Payment will be made following the session.
Patients undergoing cancer treatment, especially but not limited to Gefitinib. They are especially keen to hear from people from Black, Asian, or other ethnic minority backgrounds, women with experience of cancer treatment, and anyone who feels medical research hasn't always reflected their background. No scientific knowledge needed.
Most medicines are tested on a relatively narrow group of people. Historically, this has often meant white European men. As a result, we know much less about how some drugs work for women and people from different ethnic backgrounds. This gap in knowledge can leave some people at a higher risk of serious side effects.
Ignota Labs, a small scientific company, has been studying a lung cancer drug called Gefitinib to better understand why it causes serious side effects for some people but not for others. By using cell samples from donors with diverse backgrounds, alongside genetic data from Genomics England, their research has shown that a person’s genetic makeup can help explain these differences. This is an important step towards making cancer treatments safer and more effective for everyone.
They now want to hear directly from people affected by cancer, to ensure their work is guided by real-life experiences and priorities.
Participants will take part in a 60-minute online interview. The conversation will be informal and relaxed, with no right or wrong answers. People will be invited to share their thoughts on what matters most to them in cancer treatment, whether they’ve ever felt underrepresented in medical care or research, and how research like this should be communicated and used.
No preparation is needed in advance.
Ignota Labs are looking for patients currently undergoing cancer treatment, especially but not limited to those with experience of Gefitinib.
They are particularly keen to hear from:
people from Black, Asian, or other ethnic minority backgrounds
women with experience of cancer treatment
anyone who feels medical research hasn’t always reflected their background or experiences
No scientific knowledge or research experience is needed.
What participants share will directly shape how Ignota Labs communicate their research findings at conferences and with patient communities. Insights will also help guide future research questions, ensuring they reflect what matters most to diverse groups of people. A summary of the session will be shared with everyone who takes part.
Participants will receive £35 in total (£30 honorarium plus a £5 online activity allowance), as well as the chance to help make cancer research more inclusive and representative.
Register your interestTo take part, click on ‘Register your interest’. Ignota Labs will get in touch to confirm details. If you have any questions about taking part, please email layla.gerami@ignotalabs.ai.
If any accessibility support is needed to take part, Ignota Labs encourage people to get in touch, and they will do their best to accommodate individual needs.
